Whosoever Will
Gordon Crook, PastorGrace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21
As we consider God’s plan for redemption, we find clearly stated throughout scripture that His intent is for all to come to repentance and thus salvation. (2 Peter 3:9). While we might want to limit God’s gift of redemption to certain people or certain groups that we might consider “worthy,” God calls for “whosoever will.”
The provision was clearly laid out by Jesus before He went to the cross. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16.
God sent His Son to atone for the whole world, not just a few “worthy” ones. No one is worthy. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. That means that no one can claim something over anyone else. We might like to think that we were really “not that bad,” but Jesus had to die for your sins just the same as that person that is considered a “bad sinner.”
I find great comfort in knowing that God calls “whosoever will,” because that includes me. God has revealed to me over the years just how much of a sinner I am. If it were up to me to “earn” salvation, I would fail miserably. That also means that God would have no reason to choose me over anyone else.
In the tenth chapter of Acts, we find Peter learning a lesson from God. He is being taught that God does not care who it is that seeks Him. With the lesson of the “unclean” meats, God prepared Peter for what would come next. After seeing that God saved those Gentiles, and gave them the Holy Spirit, Peter had some things to say. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34-35 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
Jesus had already proclaimed this many times. He uses the word “whosoever” many times. He knew that His atoning death would be for the whole world, not just the Jews. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16. Here He uses the word “whosoever” and refers to the “world” which includes all of humanity.
There are numerous other places where we find similar use of the word “whosoever.” “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14. “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46. All of what Jesus made provision for is available to “whosoever.”
If we go back into the Old Testament, we can find that God had already spoken about this through His prophets. While they did not understand what exactly God was going to do through Jesus, they prophesied what God told them. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” Joel 2:32. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22.
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5. I am so thankful that God’s mercy extended to “whosoever” because that included me. It also includes anyone who might think they are not worthy or have been “too bad.” God calls to “whosoever” will, and that includes you.
